[[{{Nakama}} http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/firefly_cast.jpg]]
[[caption-width:350:(from left) Jayne, River, Simon, Mal, Inara, Zoe, Wash, Kaylee & Book]]

->'''Simon:''' ''"You have the Alliance on you; criminals and savages. Half the people on the ship have been shot or wounded, including yourself . . . and you're harboring known fugitives."''\\
'''Mal:''' ''"Well, I'm still flying."''\\
'''Simon:''' ''"That's not much."''\\
'''Mal:''' ''"It's enough."''

~~DramaticHourLong, {{Dramedy}}, SpaceWestern~~

''Firefly'' was a ScienceFiction SpaceWestern that ran for four months on the {{Fox}} Network in 2002. It was canceled after 14 episodes were produced; only 11 were aired. Its quick cancellation helped give rise to TheFireflyEffect. A DVD boxed set was released in December 2003 and has sold briskly ever since.

A feature-film continuation, ''Serenity'', was released in October 2005 to critical acclaim. Unfortunately the film's box-office performance was mediocre, barely covering its costs, which probably dooms the idea of further movies.

The show was created by JossWhedon and TimMinear (MutantEnemy Productions), and combined science fictional concepts (interstellar travel, spaceships, {{terraform}}ing) with a Western setting (poor agricultural colonies where people ride horses, cattle ranching, cowboy slang). The show told the story of a run-down tramp freighter, and its crew and passengers, trying to get along in the more isolated reaches of human space in the aftermath of a civil war. ''Firefly'' is unusual among spacegoing science-fiction series, in that the universe contains no non-human sentient beings (although the insane Reavers come close...), and in fact no non-Earth-based life at all.

''Firefly'''s life story is an interesting one: it went from (canceled) television show, to runaway cult hit DVD series, to comic-book sequel, to major motion picture. ''Firefly'' is noted for being one of the few ''canceled'' television series to be spun off into a major motion picture. The Universal film was titled ''Serenity'' because Fox still owned the rights to the name ''Firefly''. There are also a few [[{{Interquel}} comics]], with plans for more. There are also constant rumours about a second television series, and the cult status the series has attained after its premature cancellation may have saved [[{{Dollhouse}} a later Whedon work]] [[http://scifiwire.com/2009/05/fox-execs-explain-why-the.php from a similar fate]](but you can only delay the inevitable for so long, it seems: in November 2009, {{Dollhouse}} was canceled).

Notable for well-written scripts, a well-conceived {{backstory}}, memorable villains (including the perpetual AntiHero, Jayne Cobb), and a talent for switching between "sweet and touching", "dark and sinister", and "downright hilarious" without missing a beat.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: The cast included: ]]

* NathanFillion as Malcolm Reynolds, disillusioned owner and [[TheCaptain captain]] of the Firefly-class transport ''Serenity''.
* Gina Torres as Zoë Alleyne Washburne, his [[TheLancer second-in-command]]. She is HappilyMarried to
* Alan Tudyk as Hoban "Wash" Washburne, the pilot. [[NonActionGuy Somewhat of a geek.]]
* AdamBaldwin as Jayne Cobb, [[TokenEvilTeammate the mercenary]]. A man with [[BoisterousBruiser less subtlety than a sledgehammer, and even fewer brains]]. [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation Allegedly.]]
* Jewel Staite as Kaywinnet Lee "Kaylee" Frye, [[WrenchWench the mechanic]]. Her default mode is very happy. Famous enough to be referenced in ''WorldOfWarcraft''. According to Joss Whedon, when Kaylee smiles, everything suddenly becomes shiny.
* Sean Maher as Simon Tam, a [[TheMedic doctor]] [[FishOutOfWater turned fugitive]], and
* SummerGlau as River Tam, the [[MindRape mentally traumatized]] sister he rescued from [[PlayingWithSyringes government experimentation]], who's a little [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} whimsical in the brainpan]] and a [[WaifFu tiny bit]] [[AxCrazy dangerous]].
* Ron Glass as Shepherd Derrial Book, a [[BadassPreacher preacher]] with a MysteriousPast.
* Morena Baccarin as Inara Serra, a [[HighClassCallGirl Companion]], or [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold high-class courtesan]]. Or, as Mal calls her, a [[BandOfBrothels space whore]].

For further details, there is a [[{{Characters/Firefly}} character sheet here]], and a [[{{Recap/Firefly}} recap page here]].

This page also has a tool for gathering and voting on [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php/BiggestComplaint/Firefly Biggest Complaints]].

And, naturally, there is also a [[FetishFuel/{{Firefly}} Fetish Fuel]] page, which should best be read in your own bunk.

[[http://www.hulu.com/firefly/ Hulu]] rotates through the first season, 5 episodes at a time, if you're interested (which you should be).
----
!!This show provides examples of:
* AbsentAliens
* AccidentalAimingSkills: "The Train Job" - "I was aimin' for his head..."
** Made rather worrying by the fact that there were two or three people he could have hit if he'd missed by that far in ''any'' other direction.
* AccidentalHero: "Jaynestown"
* AccidentalMarriage: "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
* {{Aesoptinum}}: [[spoiler: The Pax]].
* AffablyEvil: The Operative, who [[WorthyOpponent praises his enemies]], [[ApologeticAttacker apologizes]] for his [[NecessarilyEvil evil deeds]], is perfectly willing to negotiate, and [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn spares and helps the crew once he believes killing them would not serve any useful purpose]].]]
* AfraidOfNeedles: Jayne
* AirVentEscape: Played straight with Mal in TheMovie, played for laughs later with River
* AliensAndMonsters: Arguably, the Reavers -- but, on the whole, this is actually avoided, as there is no non-Earth life in this universe.
* AllPlanetsAreEarthlike: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as all available planets and moons have been {{Terraform}}ed.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Reavers
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl
* AmazingFreakingGrace: At the end of "Heart of Gold"
* AnachronicOrder: And how. The double-length {{pilot}} aired ''last'', and while the chronological last episode did air, three episodes before it are only available on DVD, and various other quirks. It wasn't ''intentional'', but the effect of malicious ExecutiveMeddling.
** There's also the episode ''Out of Gas'', which starts InMediasRes and flashes back to both HowWeGotHere and EveryoneMeetsEveryone.
* AntiHero: Jayne Cobb, naturally. Most of the crew qualifies for this as well.
* AntiVillain: The Operative, though others consider him a self-described NecessarilyEvil WellIntentionedExtremist.
* AnyoneCanDie: [[spoiler:In TheMovie, Book and Wash]]
* ApocalypticLog: Given by the scientist on Miranda in TheMovie.
* ApologeticAttacker: The Operative.
** River beats up Simon of all people to get to the bridge in the movie. Afterwards she explains that she couldn't take a chance, whereupon Simon wryly says, "you could have asked." Simon of course, always forgives his dear little sister.
* ArcWords: "Two by two, hands of blue..." Also, the Blue Sun corporation crops up a lot.
* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: River, in TheMovie.
* AuthorTract: 80 percent of "Objects In Space" is Jubal Early babbling JossWhedon's existentialist views with Simon at gunpoint. The other 20%? [[FootFocus Summer Glau's bare feet]], and [[ShirtlessScene Sean Maher's bare torso]].
** Joss goes into even greater detail in the solo commentary which accompanies the episode.
* AutomaticallyViolent: The Reavers.
* AwesomeAnachronisticApparel: It ''is'' a space western... with T-Shirts, corporate logo's and space geishas. ''Of course'' everyone looks awesome!
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: River is so quick with math, she only needed to glance at Niska's men for a second before killing all three of them while firing only three shots with her eyes closed, assuming that wasn't PsychicPowers at work.
* AxCrazy: River, though it turns out she has a reason for it.
* {{Backstory}}
* {{Badass}} ([[strike:half the crew]] [[strike:everyone except Kaylee and Inara]] The entire cast.)
** BadassAdorable (Kaylee isn't much for action, being easily the most panicky in a fight. But when she grits her teeth in the movie, she really is adorable.)
** BadassBookworm (Simon)
** [[BadassLongcoat Badass]] [[strike:[[BadassLongcoat Longcoat]]]] [[BadassLongcoat Browncoat]] (Mal)
** BadassDriver (Wash)
** BadassPreacher (Book)
** CulturedBadass (Inara)
** [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Crouching Crazy Hidden Badass]] (River)
** Just plain {{Badass}} (Jayne)
*** Arguably Zoe too.
* BadassBoast
* BadBoss: Adelai Niska.
* BadCopIncompetentCop: Dobson probably bought his badge on a flea market.
* BadDreams
* BalladOfX: "The Ballad of Jayne Cobb"
* BandOfBrothels: The Guild of Companions.
* BarBrawl: A constant among ''Serenity'''s crew.
* BatmanGambit: River in "Objects in Space". The whole crew in "Trash".
* BeingGoodSucks
* BeleagueredChildhoodFriend: Nandi
* BerserkButton: A handy list of things that will make you want to leave this room:
** Don't insult ''Serenity'' in front of Kaylee. Just don't.
** Don't shoot Simon. [[TranquilFury That makes River angry]].
** Oh, and don't do anything to put River in danger, or Simon [[LetsGetDangerous will kick your ass]]. [[BewareTheNiceOnes Hard]].
** And while you're at it, don't threaten [[{{Nakama}} any of Mal's crew]]. Even if you happen to be a member of said crew.
** Also a very very bad idea to mention the battle of Serenity Valley with any negative connotation in front of Zoë or Mal.
*** And in an inversion, don't cut down Mal in front of Zoe for anything related to Serenity Valley. She will go cold-eyed DeathGlare on you.
*** Don't do anything bad to Inara around Mal. Only ''he'' gets to insult her.
*** Don't hurt Kaylee in front of Jayne. If you do, hope like hell there's a Shepherd nearby to bail you out.
* BecomingTheMask: Supposedly [[spoiler: Joss Whedon [[WordOfGod let it slip in an interview]] that Derrial Book was not Shepherd's real name, but rather he had taken the identity of a man he had killed]] [[http://www.serenitystuff.com/2007/12/12/ron-glass-announces-a-shepherds-tale-comic/]]
* BetterOnDVD
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Especially when errant commercials for Fruity Oaty Bars come on.
* TheBible: Just don't try to fix it. Also, it's got some surprising FetishFuel... at least if you get Saffron to read it.
* BigDamnGunship: Repeatedly
** Repeatedly ''subverted'', that is. As Jayne points out in "The Train Job," ''Serenity'' doesn't ''have'' any guns.
*** They carry Jayne. That's [[strike:close enough]] even better.
** Don't forget [[WeaponizedExhaust the Kzinti Lesson]]: Any ship with enough thrust to make orbit, let alone break orbit, can easily clear a clifftop of a few barroom brawlers ''and'' bars. And the town around those bars. Of course, there's the matter of aiming...
* BigDamnHeroes: The TropeNamer!
-->''"Looks like we got here just in the nick of time. And what does that make us?"''
-->''"BigDamnHeroes, sir."''
-->''"Aint we just."''
* BiTheWay: Inara.
* BlahBlahBlah: "Jabber, jabber, jabber."
* BlessedWithSuck: River
* BlindIdiotTranslation: Although (according to the DVD,) a translator worked hard to get Chinese slang correct, and the actors studied tape recorders, apparently it was still mangled.
**Possibly justified by the fact that the characters may simply be repeating phrases they've picked up elsewhere, and the vast majority of said phrases are curses, and there's been a few centuries of MemeticMutation. Not to mention that most of the characters already mangle proper English with their dialects anyway....
* BoisterousBruiser: Jayne Cobb
* BoomHeadshot: Goodbye, Dobson. [[spoiler:HeGotBetter in the comics, though]]
** [[spoiler: Not that it helps him any when Mal pulls this off a ''second time'', to much more fatal results.]]
* BountyHunter: Jubal Early from "Objects in Space".
* BreakTheCutie: In this case, comes conveniently ''pre-''broken.
** But there are the R. Tam Sessions, and enough flashbacks to see her being broken.
* BringNewsBack: In the Big Damn Movie.
* BuffySpeak: ...well, it ''is'' a JossWhedon show.
* BulletProofVest: The Operative is ''not'' a moron. Zoe also uses one in the pilot.
* BurnTheWitch: River almost has this done to her in "Safe".
* BuryMeNotOnTheLonePrairie: "The Message"
* BuyThemOff
* {{Calvinball}}: Tall Card, the card game played during "Shindig". The actors insisted that the writer create actual rules for the game, which she dutifully did, so that they'd have proper motivation. It's still incomprehensible to the audience.
** Also the "hoop-ball" game they play at the start of "Bushwhacked."
* CannibalClan: The Reavers are based on the legendary Sawney Bean clan.
* CarFu: The Mule
* TheCastShowoff: In case you didn't know beforehand, "Safe" shows you that SummerGlau is a ''damn'' good dancer. Adam Balwin also plays guitar.
* CatchPhrase: ''Lots'' of these, including:
** Mal: "You're on my crew."
** Jubal Early: "Does that seem right to you?"
** The Operative: "Do you know what your sin is?"
** River: "Two by two, hands of blue..."
** Wash: "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
** Kaylee: "Shiny."
** Jayne: "I'll be in my bunk."
* TheChainsOfCommanding: "Just... tell me when we get there."
** Not to be cofused with the ruttin' chain of command.
*** That's the chain I beat you with until you follow my command, right?
*ChekhovsGun: Literally in "Our Mrs. Reynolds." [[ICallItVera He calls it Vera]], and in case you don't remember [[spoiler:he uses it to disable Saffron's friends' net]].
*ChronicHeroSyndrome: Mal suffers a vicious case of it.
*ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The Alliance wears primarily blue and grey to match all their shiny tech. The Browncoats wear, um, brown, red, yellow, and orange, which goes with the Wild West setting. [[RedOniBlueOni This symbolizes the Alliance's cold modernism versus the Browncoats' heart.]]
* TheCombatPragmatist: A number of characters -- particularly Mal -- are willing to fight dirty.
** And other characters, like the Operative, who are not morons.
** The only instance of anyone fighting ''clean'' on the show was Mal's duel with Atherton Wing.
*** Actually... it ''started'' clean, but knowing Mal...
*** Actually that was the only time fighting clean was really an option.
* ComingInHot: ''Serenity'' crash-landing in TheMovie after being disabled by an EMP weapon.
* CommandRoster:
** TheCaptain: Mal
** NumberTwo: Zoe
** TheBigGuy: Jayne
** WrenchWench: Kaylee
** AcePilot & Communications Officer: Wash
** TheMedic: Simon
** AcePilot: River, she shows a skill for it in ''Serenity''.
** TheHeart: Book
* CompanionCube: "I call it Vera."
* CompleteMonster: Jubal Early. The Reavers might qualify, being AlwaysChaoticEvil.
** Although he characterizes himself this way, the Operative isn't truly a complete monster: he only used what he thought was the minimum necessary force to obtain his objectives, and he was [[ApologeticAttacker genuinely remorseful]] about all the collateral damage. Didn't stop him from swatting the next fly with a sledgehammer, though.
* CoolOldGuy: One rescues Kaylee from TheLibby in "Shindig".
-->''"Nice dress - it must have taken a dozen slaves a month to get you into it. 'Course, your daddy tells me it takes the space of a schoolboy's wink to get you out of it..."''
* CoolStarship: ''Serenity'' is one of the "[[TheAllegedCar rustbucket]]" variety. The gigantic flying wrecks of the Reaver ships are also ...quite a sight to behold.
** Nothing says hubris like the Alliance's "flying city block" design.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Blue Sun is hinted at being behind the Academy.
** The fandom's view of Fox actively invokes this, as well.
* CovertPervert: Both Kaylee and River like to watch.
** Not Kaylee. She prefers to ''run'' the action. ([[GeekyTurnOn But only when there's an engine nearby]].)
* CrossesTheLineTwice: included in the blooper reel for the BigDamnMovie is an extra take of the shot in which Mal orders his crew to [[spoiler: mask their ship as a Reaver's]]. The original scene is very nearly a KickTheDog scene, but the moment Mal's improvised orders change from the script is the moment that he takes the line and guts it with a screwdriver.
-->"Put [[spoiler: Book]] front and center; he's our friend, we should honor him. Kaylee, find that kid who's taking a dirt-nap with baby Jesus -- we need a hood ornament. Jayne! Try not to steal too much of their shit!"
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: easily at least one per episode; the Big Damn Movie is ''riddled'' with them. Both have their [[CrowningMoment/{{Firefly}} own]] [[CrowningMoment/{{Serenity}} pages]].
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: see above
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: see above
* CruelMercy
* CultClassic
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: River, completely, totally, utterly ''obliterating'' the Reavers by herself.]]
* CurseOfTheAncients: All the swearing that isn't done in "Mandarin"(-ish) has an Old West feel to it. Gorramit.
* TheCutie: Kaylee and River
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Referred to repeatedly
** I'll be in my bunk.
* DeadManWriting: Played with in "The Message".
* DeadpanSnarker: Everyone but Kaylee. Yes, even Jayne.
* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler:Shepherd Book]]
* DeathGlare: Zoe to Jayne, in TheMovie: "You want to leave this room."
** Zoe to Mal in ''Shindig''. Zoe to Wash... frequently. Hell, just Zoe.
* DeathRay: The Hands of Blue's [[BrownNote creepy supersonic weapon.]]
* DepravedBisexual: Saffron, or whatever the hell her name actually is. ''Maybe.''
** Well, maybe bisexual. Certainly depraved.
* DerelictGraveyard: The Reaver ships around Miranda, as well as the ruined ships in the first comic series.
* {{Determinator}} Mal, who doesn't let little things like swords in his stomach or being tortured to death get in the way.
**Simon has more then a little of this in him. Nothing is going to keep him from taking care of his baby sister.
* DespairEventHorizon: Mal crosses this at the battle of Serenity Valley. [[spoiler:The Operative crosses when he learns the Alliance made the Reavers.]]
* DeusExMachina: At the end of the Big Damn Movie, but a well-done type four.
* DistressedDamsel: River, constantly, as well as Kaylee. Joss Whedon was [[WordOfGod once heard to say]] that [[ChandlersLaw whenever they felt they needed to up the drama]], they'd just have someone hold the [[WrenchWench cute engineer]] at gunpoint.
* DoubleCaper: "The Train Job"
* DualWielding: River
* DyingAlone
* DynamicEntry: "Serenity" (pilot episode): "Anyone so much as moves-"
* EarWorm: The title theme is the ''first'' example listed under LiveActionTV on that page for a reason.
** Not to mention the Fruity Oaty Bars jingle.
** The Ballad Of Jayne Cobb. C'mon, admit it, you're singing it right now, aren't you? Well, [=WHY NOT=]?
*** "The hero of Canton, the man they call Jaaaaaaaaaayne!" GORRAMMIT THIS HAS BEEN IN MY HEAD FOR WEEKS!
* EarnYourHappyEnding: It says something when this series' ending is one of the more ''positive'' ones Joss Whedon wrote.
* EarthThatWas: TropeNamer
* EnsembleDarkhorse: River, who went to being one of the two leads in TheMovie, and is one of the more memorable, iconic, and popular characters of the show.
** In all fairness, she can kill you with her brain. Of course she's going to be popular.
* EnvironmentalSymbolism
* EpicHail: The final act of ''Serenity'' is nothing but this.
** Also the Button in "Trash" probably counts.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Jayne's "cunning" hat, Jubal Early.
* EvilIsSexy: Saffron, though she was sexy even before the audience learned she was evil.
* EvillyAffable: Jubal Early
* EvilRedhead: Saffron, again.
* {{Executive Meddling}}: ''Lots''; see the article
* ExpandedUniverse: TheMovie, the comics, online clips and games.
* EyepatchOfPower: Dobson, in ''Those Left Behind''.
* FanService: Unsurprisingly large amounts of it, too....
* FauxDeath: River and Simon in "Ariel", Tracy in "The Message".
* FetalPositionRebirth: River
* FetishFuelStationAttendant: Most of the cast, male or female. Serenity is clearly a prototype spaceworthy Fetish Fuel Station, no other explanation can fit.
* FinaglesLaw: Count on it every time.
* FireForgedFriends: In the Pilot Mal and Simon start off as rivals because of the clash of their respective PapaWolf instincts. At the end of the Pilot they learn to respect each other and Mal says "you're not weak".
* FirstBlood: "Out of Gas"
* [[FloatingContinent Floating Continents]]: The estates on Bellerophon.
* FluffyTheTerrible: The two most dangerous people on the boat have the gentle, unassuming names of Jayne and River.
* FoeYay: Mal and Saffron have ''heaps'' of this, as do the Tam siblings with Jayne. Jubal Early has a subtle yet [[NoYay extremely]] [[{{Squick}} squicky]] one-way version of this toward River.
* FoodPills: The ration bars from the "Serenity" episode.
* FootFocus: The 11th character.
* ForeignCussWord: The Mangled Mandarin swearing. The DVD reveals that the Mandarin isn't nearly as mangled as it first seems.
* FormerTeenRebel: Book, maybe.
* FridayNightDeathSlot: Friday at 8 PM was ''not'' a good idea for a show that features the hero [[TheDogShotFirst shooting first]], kicking people into engines, and [[SlapSlapKiss flirt-bickering]] with a well-educated, beautiful, classy... [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold prostitute]].
** Goddammed Fox.
* AFriendInNeed
* FunnyAfro: Book lets his hair [[strike:down]] [[strike:up]] ''out'' once. ''Once''.
* FunTShirt: Jayne has loads of them.
* GeekyTurnOn: Kaylee in "Shindig", managing to woo several gentlemen with her tech savvy.
* GenderBlenderName: Because "The Hero of Canton, the man they call Fred" just wouldn't have the same zing.
* GenreSavvy: Abso-gorram-lutely '''everyone'''.
* GhostPlanet: Miranda
* GhostShip: "Bushwhacked"
* GirlInABox: River, in what is considered by some a ShoutOut to ''OutlawStar''.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Five words: "I'll be in my bunk."
* GoneHorriblyWrong: What happened on Miranda in the Big Damn Movie
* GoneHorriblyRight: Miranda in the Big Damn Movie
* GoodIsNotNice: Mal and most of the rest of the crew of ''Serenity'' are generally altruistic. That doesn't make them ''nice'' guys, however, as fellows like Crow and Rance Burgess would attest.
** Of course, they're [[PsychoForHire the ones]] [[CompleteMonster to talk]].
* GoodLookingPrivates: "Because we are ''so'' very pretty."
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Subverted in that every time Mal goes up against a competent enemy, he loses.
** Except the swordfight, and [[spoiler:the second time he fights the Operative]], but he wasn't using fisticuffs either time, he was using [[CombatPragmatist whatever he could]].
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Wash and Zoe
* GoodShepherd: Who will shoot you in the kneecaps and chop off your killer robots' heads with a giant curved machete.
* TheGovernment: Alliance
* GovernmentConspiracy: Blue Hands -- [[AllThereInTheManual possibly]] a private sector conspiracy by Blue Sun, but with definite government involvement.
* GovernmentDrugEnforcement [[spoiler:The Paxilon-23 introduced to the atmosphere of Miranda, to keep the populace quiet and non-violent. It ended up killing most of the populace and turning the rest into Reavers. [[{{Understatement}} Whoops]].]]
* GratuitousForeignLanguage: The Mandarin-ish and Cantonese-oid phrases scattered through the dialogue, often as [[UnusualEuphemism family-friendly swearwords]].
** Doubles as a BilingualBonus. As the DVD set shows, they used actual Mandarin phrases, and some of them are absolutely hilarious in English.
* GunsAkimbo: Zoe and Jayne during "War Stories".
* HackerCave: Mister Universe's home.
* HannibalLecture: Inverted, when River gives one to Jubal Early.
* HeartOfDarkness: Miranda from the Big Damn Movie.
* HeroicBSOD: A good number, including River throughout most of the series, and Mal is arguably still recovering from the one at the end of the battle for Serenity Valley. On a lighter note, however, is the absolutely hilarious look of shock on his face right before the title sequence in ''Our Mrs Reynolds'', after Saffron explains the situation to him.
* HeroicSacrifice: Subverted by [[spoiler:River]] in the BigDamnMovie; see the main page for details.
**Played straight with Simon in what amounts to a lingering HeroicSacrifice through the entire series and movie when he gives up status and fortune and lives with outlaws, so he can rescue and comfort his sister.
* HeroicSociopath: Jayne Cobb
* HeyItsThatGuy!: [[HighSchoolMusical ZAC EFRON]] played young Simon Tam in a flashback of one particular episode. [[MadMen Christina Hendricks]] played [[FemmeFatale Saffron]]. It could be said that Firefly launched both their careers. Also, [[{{Numb3rs}} David]] [[HaroldAndKumar Krumholtz]], [[{{Bones}} Tamara Taylor]] and [[TheNotoriousBettiePage Sarah]] [[Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip Paulson]] with supporting speaking roles in the BigDamnMovie.
* HiddenDepths: Jayne Cobb, who is just about the last person on ''Serenity's'' crew that you would expect to play guitar.
**Simon you wouldn't count on being a criminal mastermind, Book you wouldn't count on being a BadassPreacher and River you wouldn't count on being a death machine.
*** Mal you wouldn't count on [[OverlyLongGag having read]] [[WarriorPoet a poem]]
* HighClassCallGirl: Inara
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Inara, to name one.
** Hell, they have an entire whorehouse named "Heart of Gold"
* HotAmazon: "Have you ever ''been'' with a warrior woman?"
* HonorBeforeReason: The show practically ''runs'' on this.
**Though Jayne often plays a Sancho Panza role, sometimes to an extreme degree.
* HowWeGotHere: "Out of Gas," on two levels: one showing how Mal came to be the captain of ''Serenity'', and the other showing how the ship got, well, [[TitleDrop out of gas]].
** The R. Tam sessions also.
** "Trash", or, "How Mal Got Naked".
* HoYay - Mal and Jayne sure made a convincing fake married couple (with Mal as the "wife", even)...
** According to Adam Baldwin, there would have been deliberate HoYay between Simon and Jayne if the series hadn't been cancelled.
* HumanShield: Bluntly subverted by Mal.
* HumansAreFlawed
* IAmNotShazam: Firefly is the name of the ''class'' of ship, not the ship itself. "Serenity" is the name of the ship, the first([[ExecutiveMeddling ish]]) episode and TheMovie.
* ICallItVera: TropeNamer
* ICannotSelfTerminate:''"Put a bullet in me! Bullet in the brainpan, squish!"''
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: The Operative.
* IHaveManyNames: [=YoSaffBridge=]
* IJustShotMarvinInTheFace: Kaylee getting shot by Dobson in the pilot.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: River
* IKnowThatGun: The Alliance wield, among other things, the British [=L85A2=] assault rifle, better known as the [=SA80-2=]; Jayne uses the distinctive [=LeMat=] revolver; the Independents use H&K [=G36s.=]
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut: For team heists.
* IllGirl: River, of course.
* ImAHumanitarian: One of the things the Reavers do to their victims.
** And if you're very, very lucky, [[CompleteMonster it's what they do last]].
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Both played straight and subverted; {{mooks}} are both horrible shots in general and at the same time get really, really good hits in.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Did Zoe just shoot a man's gun out of his hand... from a hundred meters off... ''from the hip?'' Not to mention River's deadly accuracy ''with her eyes closed''. Also, Jayne manages to shoot a tiny target from many hundreds of yards away while his gun is ''encased in a space suit''. He can't even hold it properly and he still gets a bull's eye.
** River's are justified. She's a gorram ''psychic''. She doesn't need to see 'em with her eyes.
* IndyPloy
* InMediasRes: In "Out of Gas."
* INeverSaidItWasPoison
* InternetBackdraft: Gosh, [[LeastCommonSkinTone it sure is weird]] that there aren't any obvious Asians in the lead cast or featured ro-[[FlameWar OH SWEET MERCY THE FLAMES!]]
* IntrepidMerchant: Mal and his crew have elements of this, though profit seems hard to come by...
* ItWasHisSled: Good luck watching the episodes [[MemeticMutation unspoilered]]. In fact, you shouldn't even have scrolled this far down the page.
* IWillFindYou (Simon finding River).
* {{Jittercam}}: Including CGI scenes.
** Zoic, who did the CGI scenes, would go on to use the same techniques in BattlestarGalactica.
* JumpedAtTheCall: Simon's rescue of River.
* KarmaHoudini: Adelei Niska.
* TheKirk: Mal, who often ended up having to choose between [[strike:nearly]] irreconcilably different options.
* ThePlotReaper: In "Heart of Gold," Mal makes Inara jealous by having sex with Nandi, but it's ok because the very next day Nandi [[CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds gets shot in the chest and dies]].
* KickTheDog: Everyone who harms or seriously threatens Kaylee dies. Which is as it should be.
** To a lesser extent, anyone who hurts her feelings or otherwise takes the smile off her face gets the antipathy of the audience, and pays for it in some measure of guilt and/or pain later in the episode.
* KilledMidSentence: Mal does this to Dobson, later it happens to [[spoiler:Wash]] in ''Serenity''.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: Handheld lasers exist but are very expensive and run out of power quickly. The sound effects used for the guns seem more appropriate for energy weapons, but there's no visible beam, and bullets are occasionally shown being loaded into guns -- and taken out of people.
** Most of the guns, while looking old fashion, are actually air cannons using high pressures instead of gun powder. Hence the different sound. Mal uses one of the only gunpowder based guns (his trusty revolver). AllThereInTheManual, or is it {{Fanon}}?
* KissOfDeath: Saffron's "goodnight kiss," which knocks out those on whom it is used -- or those who kiss those on whom it was used.
* KnightErrant: Mal.
* KnightInSourArmor: Also Mal.
* KnightTemplar: The Operative
* LadyForADay: "Shindig". Kaylee was doing this from the beginning, and Mal went along once he saw Inara was there.
* LadyOfWar: Zoe.
* LampshadeHanging: [[DoubleSubversion Double subverted]] in "Objects in Space".
-->'''Wash''': "Psychic though? That sounds like something out of science fiction!"
-->'''Zoe''': "You live in a spaceship dear."
* LaResistance: The Independents. Subverted in that they [[strike:lose]] get curb-stomped, the Alliance recovers, and life goes on.
* LastStand: The Battle of Serenity Valley.
* LargeHam: Niska + scenery = nom nom nom....
* TheLastThingYouEverSee: Very, ''very'' subverted. Magnificently so.
* [=~Layman's Terms~=]: "I need that in Captain Dummy Talk, Kaylee."
* LeastCommonSkinTone: For a universe which is heavily Asian inspired and merged completely with Chinese culture, ''none'' of the main cast members are of Asian descent. In fact, no Asian seen on-screen in the series has a single line (and there aren't many of those, either).
* LensFlare: Intentionally on Whedon's part.
* LetsGetDangerous: The Alliance had no idea what they set loose when they [[spoiler:triggered River's implanted WaifFu]].
* MadeFromRealGirlScouts: A fast food stand in the intended-pilot is selling "good dogs" -- they are not pork sausages in a finger roll with optional onions and mustard.
* MadnessMantra: "Two by two, hands of blue..."
* TheMafiya: Niska
* MagicalNegro: Subverted, the other characters rarely if ever listen to Book's advice.
* MamaBear: ''Do not'' mess with ''Serenity's'' crew. Both Zoe and River take issue with it.
** PapaWolf: The same holds true for Mal, Simon, and even Jayne when Kaylee is threatened.
* ManchurianAgent: River
* ManipulativeBastard: Jubal Early, and, [[EpilepticTrees according to some fan theories]], Jayne.
** And according to others, Simon.
* MasterOfDelusion: "Our Mrs. Reynolds" -- "I knew you let her kiss you."
* MemeticMutation: "I'll be in my bunk.", "Also? I can kill you with my brain.", "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!", "My food is problematic", "Big damn heroes, sir!" Etc., etc.
-->Mine is an evil laugh!
* MercyKill: For anyone taken by the Reavers
* MexicanStandoff: A regular feature. The pilot alone has multiple examples... including several '''in the same scene'''.
* AMindIsATerribleThingToRead: River has some bad problems with hearing everyone's thoughts.
* MindRape: Whatever the Academy did to River, she didn't turn out very well.
* MissedMomentOfAwesome: Done deliberately, for laughs. And it ''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny works.]]''
* MissionControl: Wash and Kaylee as well as River in "Objects in Space".
* {{Moe}}: Kaylee and River, deliberately.
* MoodLighting: "Out of Gas" flashbacks.
* MookFaceTurn: How Jayne was recruited.
* MoralityPet: Kaylee to Mal and Jayne.
* NiceHat: Jayne gets one for one episode, complete with the comment by Simon.
** What about the one he briefly wore in "The Train Job"? Joss and Minnear even lampshaded it in the commentary.
** "I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end you."
** And Badger's "very fine hat".
*** Finest part of Badger, definitely.
** Also inverted with Two-Fry in the pilot, though he does get the comment from Mal.
*** Which was Jayne's cue to blow his brains out, SoYeah. Though it ''was'' a nice hat.
** Let's just say {{Nice Hat}}s are popular in ''Firefly''.
* [[TheMovie The Big Damn Movie]]: ''Serenity''
* MrViceGuy: Mal.
* MutantEnemy: "Grr. Arg."
* MysteriousWaif: River
* MysteriousPast: Book, and to a lesser extent River.
* TheNapoleon: Badger
* {{Nakama}}: Serenity's crew. Mal will protect everyone on his ship and will punish anyone on his ship for harming anyone else.
* NakedOnArrival: River, in the pilot.
* NeckSnap: Jayne does this to a Fed in "Ariel".
* NerdsAreSexy: Both Simon and Kaylee.
* NeutralFemale: Subverted in TheMovie.
* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: River in "Out of Gas".
* NobleFugitive: Simon and River
* NoWomansLand: "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
* NoYay: Jubal Early's...''disturbing''...comments regarding River.
** And Kaylee! *shudder*
* OffhandBackhand: River, in the comic.
* OhCrap: "Target the Reavers! Target the Reavers! Target ''everyone!'' ''SOMEBODY '''FIRE!'''"''
** There's another one when Inara meets the Operative. She's very good at reading and controlling body language, so the way her smile fades before he even said anything speaks volumes.
* TheOjou: Inara. While prostitutes are [[DisposableSexWorker looked down on]] in our culture, in TheVerse a Companion is socially high-status, to the point where her presence grants the crew some respectability. She's also the most educated, classy, graceful and well-dressed member of the crew.
* OldFriend: Mal's pal Monty in "Trash", Inara's Companion companion Nandi in "Heart Of Gold".
* [[OneManArmy One Waif Army]]: River, in ''Serenity''.
* OneWomanWail: A vaguely Indian version, at the beginning of "Heart of Gold".
* OnlyAFleshWound: In the movie when Mal gets stabbed, though having Alliance medical care available soon after may make it somewhat less applicable. In all other cases, averted.
* TheOphelia: River, of course. "''Two by two, hands of blue...''"
* TheOtherMarty: Rebecca Gayhart as Inara
* OurFounder: The statue of Jayne Cobb. Not quite it, but similar in spirit.
* PassThePopcorn: In TheMovie, when Mal calls Inara.
* PeekABoo: The ending to "Trash" with Mal strutting about ''naked'' in the cargo hold, along with Inara's sponge bath and River's emergence from the cryo box in the pilot.
* ThePenIsMightier: From the online clips; "I'll have to write it down..."
* PerpetualPoverty: {{Lampshaded}} in the second comic miniseries ("Better Days").
* PetTheDog: Jayne has these moments, and while Mal starts off as a mean bastard in the pilot, by the end he's shown to be somewhat softer than he lets on.
* PhotographicMemory: River in general but especially at the end of "War Stories".
* PimpedOutDress: "Shindig" had plenty, including Kaylee's dress. Inara's was a more subdued fancy dress, but a lot of her outfits otherwise fit this trope.
* PistolWhipping: Zoe seems to favor rifle-whipping.
* PlayingWithATrope
* PlayingWithSyringes: River at the academy.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Rance Burgess is the most obvious case, although there are others that arguably have shades of this.
* ThePoseidonAdventure: "Out of Gas"
* PowZapWhamCam: Used when River "scans" the occupants of the trader outpost in TheMovie.
* [[{{ptitle348j0es8wpxt}} The President's Daughter]]: River
* PreAssKickingOneLiner: "My turn."
--> "She always did love to dance..."
--->"You know what your sin is..."
--->"I'm a fan of all seven."
* PressurePoints: Used by the Operative in ''Serenity''.
* PsychicPowers: River
* PsychoForHire: Jubal Early
* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway: Awesomely subverted
* QuickNip: Jayne in TheMovie
* QuoteOverdosed: It's ''very'' quotable. You can't stop with just one.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits
* ReadyForLovemaking: "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
* RecruitingTheCriminal: Mal recruited Jayne while the guy was trying to rob him.
* TheRedSonja: Saffron briefly pretends to be one of these in "Our Mrs Reynolds" -- it doesn't work.
* RelationshipUpgrade: Simon/Kaylee, at the end of ''Serenity''.
* TheRemnant: The Dust Devils in the comic book.
* RockBeatsLaser: Though laser weapons exist, simple projectile weapons are generally preferred for practical reasons.
* SacrificialLamb: Subverted
* TheSadisticChoice: Awesomely subverted
* SarcasticDevotee: Jayne
* SalvagePirates: In the episode "Out of Gas", ''Serenity'' suffers a PhlebotinumBreakdown and is left drifting in space with no power or life support. The crew of the salvage ship that seems to arrive in the nick of time decides there's more profit in shooting Mal and stealing his ship than in trading for the one part needed to fix the ship. In a couple of other episodes, notably "Bushwhacked", the crew of ''Serenity'' is accused of trying to pull this on other ships, but the crew never actually abandons anyone and ''does'' actually try to save the only survivor they find.
* ''{{Saved by the Fans}}'' ressurected for full length movie by dedicated fanbase
* ScaryBlackMan - Jubal Early. (Book is scary and, of course, no less black with his hair down, but not like that.)
* [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Raped To Death, Had Its Flesh Eaten And Its Skin Sewn Into Clothing by the Network]]: And [[AnachronicOrder not in that order]] either.
* SchizoTech: Justified, the just-settled Outer Planets have no infrastructures or industries built yet, and the Alliance apparently likes to keep it that way.
* SchoolForScheming: The Academy
* ScienceFiction
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: River occasionally. Possibly Simon.
* {{Sex As Rite-Of-Passage}}: Explored in "Jaynestown"
* SheCleansUpNicely: Kaylee in "Shindig". Not that she wasn't plenty nice before that. "No, ''especially'' when you're covered in engine grease."
* [[HeKnowsTooMuch She Knows Too Much]]: The reason the Operative is sent after River in the Big Damn Movie.
* ShellShockedSenior: Mal
* ShirtlessScene: Simon in "Objects in Space". And as said above, Mal has a shirt-pants-shoes-and-sockless scene in "Trash". Joss said he was thanked heartily by many female viewers for the former. Jayne gets shirtless at the beginning of 'Jaynestown'.
** Both Mal and Simon get this again in [[BigDamnMovie Serenity]].
* ShootTheRope: Mal does this in ''Serenity''.
* ShowerScene: Inara's sponge bath in the pilot episode "Serenity".
* ShroudedInMyth: Reavers
* ShoutOut: Numerous
* TheSiege: "Heart of Gold"
* ASimplePlan: Mal has these a lot. And they go wrong with [[FinaglesLaw alarming regularity]]
* SlidingScaleOfShinyVersusGritty
* SniffSniffNom: Jubal Early in Objects in Space, on Serenity.
* SomethingTheyWouldNeverSay: inverted in the movie: a character ''doesn't'' say something they normally would, which tips Mal off.
-->'''Mal:''' Did you see us fight?
-->'''Kaylee:''' No.
-->'''Mal:''' Trap.
* SoundtrackDissonance: The shootout/dancing scene in "Safe".
* SoylentSoy: The processed protein which the crew largely subsists on.
* SpaceIsCold: Possibly justified, they're in the Outer Rim.
* SpaceshipGirl: [[spoiler:subverted by]] River in "Objects in Space".
* SpacePirates
* SpaceWestern
* SpaceCossacks : "Take me out to the black, tell 'em I ain't come'n back"
* StealthHiBye: River. Simon once or twice.
* AStormIsComing
* StormingTheCastle: The assault on Niska's skyplex in "War Stories".
* StrangeGirl: River, obviously.
* SubspaceAnsible: Not made explicit, but there are repeated examples of instantaneous real-time communication across long distances.
* SureLetsGoWithThat: "I knew you let her kiss you!"
* SurvivalMantra: "I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar." Savagely subverted when [[spoiler:Wash dies in the middle of saying it.]]
* TastyGold: Played with. What the [[TomatoSurprise audience thinks]] is gold is actually food in a gold wrapper, so biting into it to confirm its authenticity makes perfect sense.
* TalkativeLoons: River
* TalkToTheFist: In the pilot.
* TechnicalPacifist: Book
--> '''Zoe''': Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?\\
'''Book''': Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.
* ThisIsReality: The Operative.
-->Nothing here is what it seems. He is not the plucky hero. The Alliance is not an evil empire. This is not the grand arena.
* TiredOfRunning
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Not that there's any out there that could help much in River's case...
* ThickerThanWater: Behold, the Power of Brotherhood.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: Subverted hilariously.
* ThisIsSPARTA: "WHERE! IS MY! SPACESHIP!"
* ThisMeansWar: Ask Niska about it. Oh, wait, you [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill can't]].
* ThoseTwoBadGuys: The Hands of Blue.
* ThroughHisStomach: "Wife soup!"
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Jayne almost suffers this fate in "Ariel".
* ThrowTheDogABone: River, in particular, is the one getting the bone, in the movie.
* TokenGoodTeammate: Simon and Book
* TokenEvilTeammate: Jayne Cobb
* [[TooGoodToLast Way Too Fucking Good To Last, Especially on goddamn Fox.]]
* TrainJob: The TropeNamer
* TranquilFury: River's battle against the Reavers in the Big Damn Movie.
* TriggerHappy: Jayne
* TriggerPhrase: River, and '''how'''.
* TrojanPrisoner: "The Train Job"
* TropeMobile: The good ship ''Serenity''.
* TropeOverdosed: This is a ''canceled 14-episode TV series.'' (Okay, and a film and comic book series, but still.) Look at the ''size'' of this page!
** The box set has a listed run time of 675 minutes, and the movie has a run time of 119 -- total, 794 minutes. With 1080 wicks at last count on the TropeOverdosed page, this would make this series quite literally run at over a trope a minute.
* TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty (Not that you need to try very hard.)
* TykeBomb: River
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Or unlimited t-shirts.
* UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: Mal and Inara
* UnresolvedSexualTension: No, it is not your imagination that whenever Mal and Inara get within a foot of each other, electricity shoots out of your screen. It's the UST trying to explode your television/computer.
* UnstoppableRage: Jayne briefly has one in "Jaynestown" when [[spoiler: the mudder takes a bullet for him.]] In TheMovie, River falls into a [[TranquilFury very calm]] rage when [[spoiler: Simon gets shot.]]
* UnusualEuphemism: Between the Mildly Mandarin swearing, the use of archaic words like "quim", and various other slang such as "gorram" and "shiny", It's hard to find examples of ''usual'' euphemisms on this show.
* UsedFuture: Justified
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: The Operative and the Alliance's goal.
* TheVamp: Saffron
* VictoriasSecretCompartment: Zoe
* VillainousBreakdown: "I haven't made you ''angry'', have I?"
* VoiceOfTheResistance
* WaifProphet: River
* WaifFu: River in the movie.
* WallOfWeapons: Jayne's bunk.
* [[strike:WalkingTheEarth]] [[WalkingTheEarth Flying The Space]] ..."It's enough."
* WarriorPoet: [[{{Fanon}} unconfirmed speculation]] about Shepherd Book; the [[ExpandedUniverse comics spinoff]] supports this idea.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: The Alliance
* WeWillMeetAgain: So very subverted.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Nobody but Simon would have known if he had abandoned River. Not even River herself.
* TheWoobie: Both River and Simon.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Simon gets one talking to Jayne in "Trash". River gets one in ''Serenity''.
* WrapItUp
* WrenchWench: Kaylee
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Mal, Simon, and River.
* YouMustBeCold: Monkeywrenched in the pilot.
* YouRebelScum: From most Alliance officials.
* YouShallNotPass: "My turn."
* YumYum: TwoWords: Kaylee. Strawberries. Particularly in the unaired-pilot version.
----
And notably [[AvertedTrope avoided]]:
* AllAmazonsWantHercules: The series devotes an entire episode to repeatedly demonstrating that Zoe is not, nor has she ever been, attracted to Mal.
* EvilArmy: Alliance officers believe that they are genuinely trying to protect people and improve the Verse, whether that's actually true or not.
* InfiniteSupplies
* FasterThanLightTravel: According to [[AllThereInTheManual the manual]].
* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Buddhism and Christianity are still dominant religions.
* SpaceIsNoisy: Instead, it is [[MickeyMousing Mickey Moused]].
* StealthInSpace

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